Hamilton's themed Gardens
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
Since 1960, Hamilton Gardens has evolved to showcase themed gardens that tell the story of gardens from different eras and civilisations.
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, Hamilton East, Waikato, Gardens, Gardening, Park, Garden Park
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Hamilton Gardens is an international award-winning public garden park located in Hamilton East alongside the banks of the Waikato River. The opening ceremony by the Hamilton City Council was held on 24 July 1960. The 58-hectare park's earlier history included being the site of Te Parapara Pa (Hanui and his Ngāti Wairere descendants), British military post, Victorian rifle-range, dog-dosing station, city rubbish dump and netball courts. The area has since been developed to include enclosed gardens, open lawns, a lake, a nursery, a cafe and convention centre. See Hamilton City Gardens New Zealand which also includes historic images and Hamilton Gardens map.
The Hamilton Gardens
Image: The Italian Renaissance Garden is one of several themed gardens
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
The site of Hamilton Gardens
Hamilton City Libraries
Young trees at Hamilton Gardens
Hamilton City Libraries
Hamilton Gardens 1960
Hamilton City Libraries
TheMED GArdeNS Tell The Story of Gardening styles
The unique Hamilton Gardens tells the story of gardens and gardening styles through its themed gardens from different eras and civilisations. You can walk through an Italian Renaissance Garden; step through the Indian Char Bagh (‘four quartered’) Garden; and explore a Sung Dynasty Chinese Scholar’s Garden; the Japanese Garden; Te Parapara Garden; the Modernist Garden and other gardens. The Tainui Garden called ‘Te Parapara Pa’ is a pre-European Māori garden showing the significant heritage and tikanga of the area where food crops were harvested and berries collected from forest stands. See Hamilton Gardens map.
Italian Renaissance Garden
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Italian Renaissance Garden
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Italian Renaissance Garden
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Italian Renaissance Garden
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Italian Renaissance Garden
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
The Italian Garden - doorway
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Italian Renaissance Garden
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Fountain and statue of Romulus and Remus in the Italian Renaissance Garden
Hamilton Gardens, 2014
Auckland Libraries
Arched trellis overlooking the Italian Renaissance Garden
Fletcher Construction Co Ltd: 2000 Hamilton - Trellis Arbor in Hamilton's Italian Garden
The Fletcher Trust
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Indian Char Bagh Garden
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Indian Char Bagh Garden
Indian garden, Hamilton Gardens
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Entrance to the Chinese Scholars' Garden
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Lake in Chinese Scholars' Garden
Lake in the Chinese Scholars Garden
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Chinese Scholars' Garden
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Chinese Scholars' Garden
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, NZ
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Te Parapara Garden
Traditional gardening developed by Ngāti Wairere
Auckland Libraries
Japanese Garden of Contemplation
Autumn
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Japanese Garden of Contemplation
All You Need Is Love
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
The American or Modernist Garden with Marilyn Monroe
Modernist garden, Hamilton Gardens
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Ancient Egyptian Garden
Statues at one corner of the Garden
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Surrealist Garden
Tourism New Zealand
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Turtle Lake
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Colour of autumn, Hamilton gardens
Lincoln University
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
"Friends" - Hamilton Gardens
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Kowhai flowers and tui; Hamilton Gardens
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Monarch
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
European Rabbit
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Jacaranda puberula
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton, New Zealand
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
New Zealand cabbage tree
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Rhododendron stenopetalum
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Lithocarpus henryi
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Untitled
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Ptérocaryer du Caucase
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Macrozamia
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Hairbells
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Flowering Plants
iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao
Bus stop by carpark
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
![Image: The Hamilton Gardens [video recording] an interview with: David Bowden](https://thumbnailer.digitalnz.org/?resize=770x&src=https%3A%2F%2Fheritage.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz%2Frecords%2Fimages%2Flarge%2F21630%2Fa824482805703ace92abaab11b7a786804484b96.jpg&resize=368%253E "The Hamilton Gardens [video recording] an interview with: David Bowden")
Interview about the Hamilton Gardens with: David Bowden, 2006
The Hamilton Gardens [video recording] an interview with: David Bowden
Hamilton City Libraries
Hamilton Gardens, New Zealand
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage